How to Prepare for College Visits

Going on college campus visits is an important step toward finding the best college for you. These visits give you a taste of where you might spend the next few years, providing insight into academic life, campus culture, and the surrounding community. Seeing a college in person often makes the college planning process more exciting because you can start envisioning yourself as a college student.

It’s essential to plan ahead to make the most of these experiences — and this planning can begin weeks before you actually set foot on a college campus. This guide will walk you through action steps to take in the weeks and days leading up to your campus visit, as well as tips for making the most of your experience once you arrive.

Long-term Preparation (Weeks in Advance)

Schedule Your Visit Well in Advance

Timing is everything. Ideally, you would like to visit a college campus during the academic semester so you can see what life is like on a daily basis. Visiting during a time when students are away from campus — like spring break or during the summer — may not provide the experience you are hoping for if you want to see a bustling campus filled with students.

Admissions offices also have limited space available for daily information sessions and campus tours, and they can fill up quickly during popular times of the year. Because many high school students have breaks around the same time, certain times of year — like fall break, Thanksgiving, and spring break— are peak seasons for campus visits. Make sure to plan ahead to have enough time to register and secure your spot.

Pro Tip: We recommend official campus visits whenever possible so the college has a record of your visit. Sign up for official campus visits using the student’s personal email address. This is how the college will continue to communicate with you. 

Research the College & Surrounding Area

To make the most of your college visit, do some research before you arrive. Visit the college website to learn more about academic offerings or parts of campus life that interest you most. Make a note of anything specific you would like to see on your campus visit or any questions you would like to have answered. 

Also, take time to research the surrounding area. A college isn’t just an isolated environment; it's part of a larger community. Spend time on the college's website and use other resources (even maps!) to get familiar with the area around campus. This research can help you understand the college's relationship with its community and identify potential off-campus activities that may interest you.

Tips for Lodging, Dining & Transportation

Figuring out accommodations, meals, and how you will get around are also part of planning a college visit. Look for lodging options near the campus to minimize travel time. Some colleges even offer suggestions or discounts for nearby hotels. 

Consider dining options both on and off campus to sample local cuisine and maybe even see current students around town.

You also need to figure out transportation, especially if your family is not driving to the college. If your family is flying, will you need to rent a car? If you are in a more urban area, can you get around using public transportation or ride-share options? 

Planning for Multiple Visits

Limit your visits to no more than two schools per day so that you can fully absorb your experiences and avoid fatigue. Carefully plan your route between the campuses, taking travel times into account. This ensures you arrive at each campus relaxed and ready to explore.

Right Before the Visit (Days in Advance)

Finalizing Logistics

Parking and Transportation: Verify parking options and locations in advance. Some campuses are more navigable on foot or by public transport, especially those in urban areas or historic colleges with limited parking. If you will not be parking near the admissions office, give yourself enough time to travel on foot to where your official visit begins.

Weather Considerations: Check the forecast and pack accordingly. Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and essentials like water bottles, sunscreen, or umbrellas can make your visit more enjoyable. No one wants to tour a campus with achy, wet feet!

Setting Goals for Your Visit

Before your campus visits, go over your college criteria to revisit which aspects of college life are most important to you. This is a great family discussion to get everyone on the same page ahead of the campus visit!

As a family or on your own, prepare a list of questions that you want answered during your visit. Determine who can best answer these questions (Is it an admissions officer? Your student tour guide?) so you can make sure to seek them out. 

Unofficial Visits & Self-Guided Tours

If an official tour isn’t available, don’t feel discouraged. Many colleges offer materials for self-guided tours. These can still be a great way to explore at your own pace. 

Before your self-guided tour, reach out to the Office of Admissions to let them know you will be on campus. You can also ask any questions related to your academic interests or any other area of campus life ahead of your visit (I like to ask for a recommendation of what I definitely shouldn’t miss while visiting their campus). 

The college may also have recorded information sessions or a virtual tour on their admissions website. Reviewing these materials beforehand — along with your previous research — will help you get the full picture when you set foot on campus.

Regardless of the tour type, be observant! Notice the buildings on campus, the interactions between students, and the overall atmosphere. Take lots of notes and pictures to help you remember your experience when you’ve returned home.

Preparing for a college campus visit involves more than just showing up. With some research, an intentional plan, and clear goals, you can ensure that your campus visit is both enjoyable and informative. Remember to keep an open mind and absorb as much as you can about each campus. This thoughtful approach will help you make an informed decision when it comes time to choose the college that’s right for you!

Making Decisions When You Can't Visit Colleges

Update 3/18: Here is a list of which colleges and universities have announced plans for virtual events.

There’s no denying it - applying to college is a long process. But for seniors, March is when we start seeing that light at the end of the tunnel!

By the end of this month, students will have received admission decisions and financial aid award letters from many colleges on their lists. Now it’s time to make a decision.

Which school gets your “yes”?

Under ordinary circumstances, making this decision isn’t always easy. Even in a “normal” year, spring is a busy time for seniors. It can be difficult to make a second - or third or first - visit to each college that’s sent an acceptance letter. This is especially true for students who applied to colleges all over the country.

How are you supposed to compare a potential future at a local college (where you can visit multiple times, easily attend accepted student days, etc…) with the experience at a college that’s further away where you’ve maybe only spent a few hours?

For the Class of 2020, there’s an extra challenge - Coronavirus. COVID-19 is causing colleges to close campuses, canceling tours, accepted student days, and scholarship events. So let’s look at ways to help make that final decision easier when you can’t get back to every - or any - colleges still on the list.

VIRTUAL VISITS

Virtual tours are always a great way to see a campus without a major investment. I often recommend virtual tours before in-person tours for students interested in a college they’d have to travel a long distance to visit. Some colleges have virtual tours available on their websites, YouTube has lots of options (though some will be better than others), and sites like YouVisit offer virtual tours for hundreds of students.

Even if you’ve visited before, use a virtual tour to refresh your memory of what that campus environment felt like. You may even get to see more of the campus than you did on your in-person visit.

Don’t forget about the area surrounding the campus! Use Google Maps Street View to virtually explore the city or town around the college. (Pro-tip: You can also see how long it takes to walk from one end of campus to the other or from the residence halls to the dining hall!)

Keep an eye out for other virtual opportunities as well! College staff are working hard, and we’re likely to see many schools offering Virtual Accepted Student Days. Try to attend these, but be patient with any technical difficulties along the way.

ASK AROUND

Hopefully, you built a solid team around you during the application season. Your teachers, your school counselor, your IEC, and your admissions representative are all still here to help answer any lingering questions.

If you were looking forward to sitting in on a class, ask your admissions rep if you can be connected with a professor who is willing to speak with you about your intended major.

You can also learn a lot about a campus from current students. (There’s a reason most colleges have students give their tours.) Ask your “team” if they can help you get in touch with any current students at the colleges on your list and learn what their experience on campus has been.

REMEMBER YOUR WHY

When we work with students, we place a lot of emphasis on finding a good “fit” for each student. We spend time crafting a balanced list that fits our students academically, socially, and financially. In any scenario, it’s a good idea to go back and consider why you applied to that college in the first place. Remember the key criteria that make up your perfect fit and compare that list with the colleges you’re still deciding between.

A good tip is to look back at any supplemental essays the college asked for. Did you write a “Why Us?” or a “How will you contribute to this campus?” essay during the application process? Reread your own answers to these questions to remember your “why.”

START SOCIALIZING

There are ways for you to get to know your potential classmates without setting foot on campus. Join any groups on social media for admitted students and interact with people who are in your shoes. Ask them their “why.”

To get an idea of what life is like on campus, scroll through Instagram and Twitter accounts for colleges, admissions offices, or any clubs or sports on campus that interest you. Right now, they’re probably posting COVID-19 updates, but look back through their feed to see what things look like when it’s “business as usual.”

PAY ATTENTION - THINGS CHANGE

College closures on this scale are unprecedented, and the situation is changing every day. Some events may be rescheduled in a few weeks. There’s already talk of some schools extending their decision deadline from May 1 to June 1. Stay engaged with the colleges on your list so you don’t miss any updates!

Stay healthy out there!